Delivery &Transport

Drone Technology for Delivery and Transport

THE WALKER

The latest industry to benefit from drones is logistics and commerce. In cases where urgent express shipments are required, for example in crowded cities or in rural areas lacking in adequate infrastructures, drone delivery could provide the ideal solution.

DRONES IN DELIVERY

In recent years we’ve witnessed rapid urbanisation in many areas, and this trend is set to continue into the future. The result of this rapid urbanisation is increased pollution, congested roads, and decreased efficiency which is mainly caused by delays in the flow of people and goods. Urban first and last mile delivery is a major part of the problem; as online shopping increases, so does demand for this service.

Using drones for delivery provides major relief for inner city areas by taking unnecessary traffic off the roads and directing it into the skies instead.

Examples of how drone deliveries can work:

The scenario: a long-haul delivery arrives from outside the city and is sorted at a warehouse, being separated automatically according to certain criteria, drones then collect packages from the conveyer belts for delivery. A smartphone app and GPS allows the customer to place orders and track their delivery.

Another scenario: the WALKER sits on top of a delivery truck, awaiting a parcel from the driver; the barcode on the parcel is scanned by the drone, it then uses GPS to fly to the destination. Afterwards, the drone hooks up with the truck, recharges its batteries, and gets ready for its next delivery run.

Drone shipping has a number of benefits for both businesses and customers: waiting times are reduced from two to three days, down to a matter of hours, plus there is less chance of a package being damaged during transit and handling as drone flight is pretty smooth.

RURAL DELIVERY, “HARD TO REACH!”

Non-standard infrastructure

Rural areas tend to have poorer infrastructures and may be more difficult to reach by traditional delivery methods. Delivery by drone can help to overcome this problem, providing occupants of rural areas with deliveries of everything from online shopping orders, to emergency medical supplies. Drones can help to reduce, and eventually replace, the existing complex processes of reaching rural areas, such as cars, boats, and postal workers.

INTRALOGISTICS, “FETCH!”

Pass me that wrench?

UAVs could provide valuable support to intra-plant transport in addition to supplier-to-plant emergency deliveries. This also includes the express delivery of items on-site that are crucial in the maintaining of operations, such as the delivery of parts, tools, and lubricants.

Employing drones within warehouses provides the opportunity for a more flexible and accessible storage system, featuring high bays that would be unreachable by humans alone. The drones can be equipped with sensors which allow the system to observe and analyse the surrounding environment, allowing the drone to navigate safely through the warehouse, find the target object, and carry out inventory checks as programmed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Airborne Drones recommends the WALKER delivery that has been designed specifically for this purpose. Delivery drones have the potential to revolutionise the way you do business, but only when used to their full advantage. Our recommendations include:

Manage for a fleet, not a flight: It’s important to understand that the actual number of UAVs required will vary according to the situation. Enterprises should aim to acquire and manage a fleet of delivery drones suitable for different purposes to enhance business operations.

Plan global, think local: Enterprises should prepare for global deployments, but they will also need to adjust their plans to accommodate local guidelines and regulations, which vary significantly based on local jurisdiction.

Design for data collection and analysis: Sensor data collected by UAVs can help to guide work processes and generate insight, and can be used for preventive and predictive maintenance, and operational intelligence. Companies will need a drone platform equipped to capture, process, and analyse data.

Change how work is done: We recommend that companies view drones as an active part of the business process. The role of existing employees may change as drones become ‘digital workers’, freeing up humans for other roles within the business.

A DRONES EYE VIEW

Airborne Drones focus on the design, manufacture, and marketing of long-range drones, typically 10km, 20km and 35km, which can carry payloads of up to 8kgs, and are for industrial strength commercial use. Long-range delivery drones have the potential to offer huge benefits for commerce and business. Solutions can be developed to meet your specific requirements, and our services can include support and training during implementation, as well as post implementation.